Lack of Power - Dreaded P1557 Code

AndyC567 · Feb 17, 2011

Hi All,

For some reason I thought that my old Tolly (2002 TDI 110) wasn't performing so well so I got out the laptop and run a quick Vag-Com scan.

1 Fault Found:
17965 - Charge Pressure Control: Positive Deviation
P1557 - 35-00 - -
Readiness: N/A

Strange thing is, no warning lights, I would of thought if the car is in limp mode, I should see some kind of indication?

I just wondered if someone in simple terms could please give me a quick overview as to what it is all about ?

I have read lots from dodgy turbo's, leaking pipes and N75 valves but I don't really understand what it all means.

Anyone know where the N75 valve is and how I can tell if it is working ?

Any idea's as to what I should do first ?

Thanks Guy's

Seatmann · Feb 17, 2011

Your turbo has vanes that move to increase boost, these are controled by a solonoid (N75) on the bulk head and an actuator on the turbo. Have a look through this faq and it should help explain things. There are no signs apart from the car loses power, you switch off the ignition and back on again and it runs fine again until the next time etc, the ecu shuts off the turbo to protect the engine

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/multi/limp-mode-TDI-fix.htm

sssstew · Feb 18, 2011

hey andy, so still got the Tolly... must have some miles on it now yeah?

Probably just sticky vanes, this is where i would look first, either get an innotec cleaning kit, wd40 down the actuator arm and work it or drop off the turbo and clean it up, all have been talked about before in this tdi section so you can find the info you need.

let us know how you go.

AndyC567 · Feb 18, 2011

Thanks Stew, I was hoping you would pop along and comment on my problem..
Yep, the old Tolly has now done 187k, and apart from a recent alternator and exhaust (its first I believe) it has been superb!!

It has never been as lively as your Ibiza was considering it has the same lump, I still remember that day when you took me out, your Ibiza was rapid !

Well the car was a lot more lively on the way to work this morning, as I guess the 'limp mode' reset overnight.
A quick play about on a quiet road and I was getting 0-60 mph around the 11 secs mark that I should, compared to 20+ secs I got with a similar play last night. I will look later to see if the code has returned, as I cleared it last night.

I guess the fact that it has fixed its self for the time being implies that it isn't a split vacum hose or anything like that doesn't it ?

So, like you say, must be a sticky turbo..
I have had the EGR disabled via Vag-Com for at least the last 80k as I believed that this would prevent the turbo from sooting up.

I have Vag-Com and am going to try the exercise the VNT mechanisum and squirt some WD40 on it, anyone know where I need to look to see if it is moving (from top, underneath, left or right of engine ?).

I did read about the innotec cleaning kit, about 40 quid, is it worth a try ?
Any idea how it works and what you do with it, I am unable to find any instructions ?

Thanks for all your help..

UncleFester · Feb 18, 2011

IF you run the VNT cycle, you will hear the engine change sound, revs will rise and fall and the glowplug light will flash IIRC

AndyC567 · Feb 18, 2011

UncleFester said:
IF you run the VNT cycle, you will hear the engine change sound, revs will rise and fall and the glowplug light will flash IIRC

Hi Pat, long time no see..

I plan to do the VNT thing over the weekend..

I do have a question on that though, you say the revs rise but I seem to remember last time I did it that they didn't ?
The light did flash though.

Reading on here, some say they do, others say they don't anyone know ?

Ta.

Artmasterx · Feb 18, 2011

AndyC567 said:
Thanks Stew, I was hoping you would pop along and comment on my problem..
Yep, the old Tolly has now done 187k, and apart from a recent alternator and exhaust (its first I believe) it has been superb!!

It has never been as lively as your Ibiza was considering it has the same lump, I still remember that day when you took me out, your Ibiza was rapid !

Well the car was a lot more lively on the way to work this morning, as I guess the 'limp mode' reset overnight.
A quick play about on a quiet road and I was getting 0-60 mph around the 11 secs mark that I should, compared to 20+ secs I got with a similar play last night. I will look later to see if the code has returned, as I cleared it last night.

I guess the fact that it has fixed its self for the time being implies that it isn't a split vacum hose or anything like that doesn't it ?

So, like you say, must be a sticky turbo..
I have had the EGR disabled via Vag-Com for at least the last 80k as I believed that this would prevent the turbo from sooting up.

I have Vag-Com and am going to try the exercise the VNT mechanisum and squirt some WD40 on it, anyone know where I need to look to see if it is moving (from top, underneath, left or right of engine ?).

I did read about the innotec cleaning kit, about 40 quid, is it worth a try ?
Any idea how it works and what you do with it, I am unable to find any instructions ?

Thanks for all your help..

I have been having the same problem for a while now, but haven't been able to get it worked out. The car is at the shop again right now seeing if they can figure it out. Basically it is an independent used car place that has been trying to fix the problem since I noticed it the day I bought the car. Up to now, they have been trying fixes themselves (cleaned turbo, new vacuum lines, fixed a minor leaking oil return pipe from turbo). They have finally broken down and taken it to an actual Seat/VW dealer to have a full diagnostic to try to get it fixed once and for all... hopefully. We'll see.

You can see some of the details in these two threads:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=300976
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=280772

The typically turbo cleaning didn't seem to fix the problem with mine, and the vanes and actuator seems to move smoothly. I tried a different N75 valve but that didn't help either.
You can see my current theories in the other threads, but I will certainly update once it's fixed for good.

The Innotec thing requires you can get access to your turbo by taking the downpipe (?) off so that you can fill the exhaust side of the turbo with a solvent to dissolve the buildup. It's not a simple DIY at home for most people, but better than having to take the turbo off completely.

It could be a split vacuum hose, but doubtful. Typically this only occurs under heavy load. You could also try logging data and seeing what it looks like, you can see my examples in the other thread.

Hopefully you can get it sorted quickly and easily... definitely let us know what fixes your case.

AndyC567 · Feb 18, 2011

Well, done 50 miles today, giving it loads and no problem.

I even checked the codes using Vag-Com when I got home and nothing !!

I doubt the problem has gone away for ever, I guess it will back.

Kind of confirms that it is a sticky Turbo, as a split vavuum hose or similar would be a permanent fault, wouldn't it ?

I called my local VAG specialist in Milton Keynes and they said they wouldn't usually recommend cleaning the turbo with a Innotec cleaning kit, but they would do it if I supplied the kit for £90+vat which is an hours labour.

When I had Vag-Com connected, I did run the VNT exercise thing, but didn't noticed any change in RPM, in fact didn't notice much at all other than a flashing glow plug light.
Vag-Com was changing from on to off ever 10 secs and the reading was changing (MAP is is it?) so it deffo was doing something..
I couldn't see any linkage moving, even after removeing the engine cover, where should I be looking?

So, what is my step, any idea's ?

Thanks Guy's..

UncleFester · Feb 18, 2011

You should have heard the engine come under load - a definite engine tone change and a revs slight rise.

UncleFester · Feb 18, 2011

Mine split the vac line that runs to the actuator on the turbo - only a small leak etc but it was noticeable.

Could also be gunk in the EGR - might be worth a clean.

Either INDETECH or TotalVAG if you don't want to do it yourself

AndyC567 · Feb 20, 2011

UncleFester said:
You should have heard the engine come under load - a definite engine tone change and a revs slight rise.

Cheers for that..

I did notice a slight change, maybe as the engine came under load as you describe.

I plan to go out and log the Turbo Block 11 and the MAF block 3 later.

Seems ok at themoment though, so no idea what is going on.

Artmasterx · Feb 20, 2011

Artmasterx said:
I have been having the same problem for a while now, but haven't been able to get it worked out. The car is at the shop again right now seeing if they can figure it out. Basically it is an independent used car place that has been trying to fix the problem since I noticed it the day I bought the car. Up to now, they have been trying fixes themselves (cleaned turbo, new vacuum lines, fixed a minor leaking oil return pipe from turbo). They have finally broken down and taken it to an actual Seat/VW dealer to have a full diagnostic to try to get it fixed once and for all... hopefully. We'll see.

You can see some of the details in these two threads:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=300976
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=280772

The typically turbo cleaning didn't seem to fix the problem with mine, and the vanes and actuator seems to move smoothly. I tried a different N75 valve but that didn't help either.
You can see my current theories in the other threads, but I will certainly update once it's fixed for good.

The Innotec thing requires you can get access to your turbo by taking the downpipe (?) off so that you can fill the exhaust side of the turbo with a solvent to dissolve the buildup. It's not a simple DIY at home for most people, but better than having to take the turbo off completely.

It could be a split vacuum hose, but doubtful. Typically this only occurs under heavy load. You could also try logging data and seeing what it looks like, you can see my examples in the other thread.

Hopefully you can get it sorted quickly and easily... definitely let us know what fixes your case.

Well, apparently the Seat/VW dealership recommended replacement of the MAF... which I could have told them would do no good based on the data I have logged and various rules of thumb heard here. And it didn't fix the problem... F-in A man.

So, I decided to see if I could determine if the intake or EGR was clogged and causing too high a back pressure. I did not take the EGR off, but took off the hose leading to it from the intercooler so that I could at least get a few pictures (below).

Maybe you guys know better what to look for, but certainly on the EGR side things look pretty clean. I couldn't get a good view to see much with the intake, but it doesn't appear to be heavily clogged from the pictures (you can see one with a pretty far focal point, presumably somewhere in the intake past the EGR).

What do you, does this probably rule out a clogged intake as a potential source?

This one has a pretty far focal point that makes me thing the intake is fairly clean...

sssstew · Feb 21, 2011

AndyC567 said:
Thanks Stew, I was hoping you would pop along and comment on my problem..
Yep, the old Tolly has now done 187k, and apart from a recent alternator and exhaust (its first I believe) it has been superb!!

It has never been as lively as your Ibiza was considering it has the same lump, I still remember that day when you took me out, your Ibiza was rapid !

Well the car was a lot more lively on the way to work this morning, as I guess the 'limp mode' reset overnight.
A quick play about on a quiet road and I was getting 0-60 mph around the 11 secs mark that I should, compared to 20+ secs I got with a similar play last night. I will look later to see if the code has returned, as I cleared it last night.

I guess the fact that it has fixed its self for the time being implies that it isn't a split vacum hose or anything like that doesn't it ?

So, like you say, must be a sticky turbo..
I have had the EGR disabled via Vag-Com for at least the last 80k as I believed that this would prevent the turbo from sooting up.

I have Vag-Com and am going to try the exercise the VNT mechanisum and squirt some WD40 on it, anyone know where I need to look to see if it is moving (from top, underneath, left or right of engine ?).

I did read about the innotec cleaning kit, about 40 quid, is it worth a try ?
Any idea how it works and what you do with it, I am unable to find any instructions ?

Thanks for all your help..

yeah sounds like you might have freed the sticky vanes up. Just make sure you keep giving it a good amount of stick to keep them moving

I really really miss my Ibiza, youve bought back all the memories

AndyC567 · Mar 16, 2011

sssstew said:
yeah sounds like you might have freed the sticky vanes up. Just make sure you keep giving it a good amount of stick to keep them moving

Doh !!!

The old Diesel has started going into limp mode again..

Vag-Com reveals the same P1557 code.

Seems more regular than before.

I guess I now need to do somethnig about it.

So where do you guy's reckon I should start ?

Ta.

MJ · Mar 16, 2011

remove turbo, clean turbo, re-fit turbo then in future use high cetane fuel or millers and give it full boost up hill every now and again.

Hobbiniho · Mar 16, 2011

you dont need to remove the turbo to clean the vanes, heres a good guide from the caddy forum and only costs a fraction of the innotec cleaning kit

http://www.vwcaddy.com/showthread.php?t=51079&highlight=muscle

MJ · Mar 16, 2011

Hobbiniho said:
you dont need to remove the turbo to clean the vanes, heres a good guide from the caddy forum and only costs a fraction of the innotec cleaning kit

http://www.vwcaddy.com/showthread.php?t=51079&highlight=muscle

To do the job properly you need to remove the turbo, split the housing and remove the sooty build up within, once the turbo is so far clogged innotec will do nothing.

UncleFester · Mar 16, 2011

Andy - give it an Italian tune once a month and it will be fine once you sort out the current problem.

sssstew · Mar 17, 2011

more than once a month, i used to do it daily off each round about in MK, it was great for that, then a good long hard driven run cross country (300miles one way) every 6 months kept my old 110 healthy as Andy knows

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